by Nisandeh Neta
"People say that what we're all seeking is the meaning of life... I think that what we're really seeking is the experience of being alive."
-Joseph Campbell
Most people, at some point in their lives, question whether they are on the right path. Often, sadly, it isn't until they are faced with trauma or death that they stop to ask the important questions:
"People say that what we're all seeking is the meaning of life... I think that what we're really seeking is the experience of being alive."
-Joseph Campbell
Most people, at some point in their lives, question whether they are on the right path. Often, sadly, it isn't until they are faced with trauma or death that they stop to ask the important questions:
"What is my life purpose?"
"What are my dreams?"
"Am I willing to make them happen?"
In case you haven't asked yourself these questions in awhile, take a minute now to think about where you are. Do any of these sound like that familiar voice in your head?
* Are you spending a lot of time doing things you don't wish to do, in places where you don't want to be, because you feel you have to (i.e. working at a job you don't like because you need the paycheck)?
* Are you feeling restless and unfulfilled?
* Do you feel like you haven't reached your full potential in the most important areas of your life?
* Do you frequently say, "There just aren't enough hours in the day"?
* Do you rationalize and make excuses such as "I know what I need to do to be happy, but...", or "First I need to... before I can..."?
* Have you abandoned a dream that - deep down - you still long to realize?
Regardless of your circumstances - personal or financial - you probably desire more. You may have a nagging feeling that you have not accomplished all you can, and that fulfillment, happiness and satisfaction are just beyond your reach. Many people are trapped in the same cycle and begin to see their purpose in life is to struggle and survive.
But here is the newsflash - life is not about merely surviving - life is about living! It's your life and you deserve to live it to the fullest. I am talking about finding out what it is that YOU wish for. Living up to YOUR own standards. Finding YOUR passion and living YOUR dreams.
Dare to Dream
In his book, The Pilgrimage, Paulo Coelho describes the human necessity of dreaming: "our dreams nourish our soul, as food nourishes our body. When we stop dreaming, we begin to die."
Life has a way of pulling our dreams away from us: sometimes we have to put them aside to meet the daily demands of survival; sometimes the obstacles to reaching them seem too difficult. As we get older and gain more "life experience", we let go of our dreams and put them down as "childish" and "idealistic". We become afraid to take risks.
But when we let our dreams die, we burnout, have accidents, suffer from heart attacks and cancer, and lose our sense of joy and wonder about the world.
Three "death sentences" for dreams:
"There's not enough time." Ever noticed that you make time for the things that you really want to do (whether it is work-related, or a leisure pursuit)? I've met some pretty busy people in my life (including Vered and me) and they always have enough time to do everything they really want to do. There are 24 hours in a day available: it is up to you to fill them with meaning and purpose.
* "I've seen it all." This is the cynic's standard response to life: I'm not going to bother to dream or try to realize my dreams, because I've seen so many disasters and failures. I KNOW it won't work out: I have learned all I had to learn and know all I need to know. This attitude fails to recognize that life is a magical school and grand adventure - we don't really know what's around the corner and what more it has to teach us.
Everyone I ever met who achieved greatness was always eager both to learn and experience more. For myself, I know - the day I stop being curious, is the day my soul has died.
* "I'm too old for that kind of thing." Some call this maturity. I call it death. I have met "old" people who can run circles around a twenty-something and I've met teenagers who have as much energy and enthusiasm as a corpse. There are retirees who go directly to the senior's home, and there are retirees who seize their new freedom from kids and work and start their life again with zest and energy.
It's all about attitude. When you ask for nothing, expect nothing, and contribute nothing, that's what you end up with. The more you put in - the more you get out. Our life purpose is to discover and experience it all... And if you're reading this (which means you are not dead yet), then your life purpose is not yet achieved!
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